Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 010433
The Higher Education Challenge Grants (HEC) Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds higher-education projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The program is designed to support projects that tackle an educational need at the state, regional, national, or even international level, especially where the work can make a broader impact than a single campus or audience. A strong proposal is expected to use a creative or non-traditional approach and produce results that can be replicated or adapted elsewhere, meaning the project should function as a practical model that other institutions or programs could follow.
A central emphasis of the HEC Program is collaboration and capacity-building across the higher education ecosystem. Projects are expected to improve working relationships within the university science and education community and also strengthen ties between universities and the private sector. In practice, this means proposals that bring together multiple departments, institutions, industry partners, or other organizations to improve program quality and stretch available resources tend to align well with the program intent. Another key expectation is lasting value: NIFA is looking for outcomes that continue beyond the award period, so applicants should think in terms of sustainable curricula, enduring partnerships, scalable teaching resources, institutionalized training models, or other long-term improvements that do not disappear when USDA funding ends.
Eligibility is limited to institutions that can demonstrate the ability to teach in the food and agricultural sciences and that meet the RFA's definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization (referenced in the opportunity as Appendix III). Applications may be submitted by U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one food or agricultural sciences discipline. Land-grant universities, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas, are explicitly eligible, as are colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments that can demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching in the relevant fields. Other colleges and universities may also qualify if they can demonstrate the same instructional capacity. Importantly, individual branches within a state university or higher education system can be treated as separate eligible applicants only if they are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions; campuses that are not independently accredited are not treated as separate institutions for this program. The opportunity also notes that a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university may be considered an eligible institution, provided the accreditation is by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
On personnel and participant eligibility, the program states that U.S. citizenship is not required for faculty serving as the Project Director (PD), co-PD, or other key personnel. However, individuals who receive Federal funds for developmental activities must be U.S. citizens or nationals as defined in the RFA. The announcement repeatedly stresses that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award even if the proposal is reviewed, so institutions typically need to verify eligibility details early.
The notice also includes a condition specific to CG1 and CG2 applicants: the primary applicant institution must meet the regulatory definition of "eligible institution" in 7 CFR 3405.2(i). For projects involving partners under CG1 and CG2, participating institutions do not necessarily need to meet that same definition, and they also do not have to meet the definitions of "college" or "university" in 7 CFR 3405.2(f). In addition, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the project, which gives applicants flexibility to include specialized partners such as nonprofits, industry entities, or service providers.
From the posted source details, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Agriculture funding activity category (CFDA 10.217) administered by USDA NIFA. The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA CGP 010433. The original closing date listed is 2024-03-05. The award ceiling is $750,000, and NIFA anticipates making about 18 awards, indicating a competitive program with relatively substantial per-project funding for higher education innovation and partnership-based efforts in the food and agricultural sciences.Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 010433
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Challenge Grants (HEC) Program (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
1) What is the Higher Education Challenge Grants (HEC) Program?
The Higher Education Challenge Grants (HEC) Program is a competitive discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports higher-education projects in the food and agricultural sciences.
2) What types of projects does HEC fund?
HEC funds higher-education projects that address an educational need at the state, regional, national, or international level. The program emphasizes projects that can create broader impact beyond a single campus or audience.
3) What is NIFA looking for in a strong HEC proposal?
A strong proposal is expected to use a creative or non-traditional approach and produce results that can be replicated or adapted elsewhere. In other words, the project should function as a practical model other institutions or programs could follow.
4) Does HEC prioritize projects with impact beyond one institution?
Yes. The program is designed to support work that reaches beyond a single campus or a narrow audience, especially where the educational need and the potential impact are broader (statewide, regional, national, or international).
5) How important is collaboration in HEC projects?
Collaboration is a central emphasis. Projects are expected to improve working relationships within the university science and education community and strengthen ties between universities and the private sector.
6) What kinds of partnerships fit the program intent?
Proposals that bring together multiple departments, institutions, industry partners, or other organizations to improve program quality and stretch available resources tend to align well with the intent described in the opportunity.
7) Does the program require long-term or sustainable outcomes?
Yes. NIFA is looking for outcomes that continue beyond the award period. Examples mentioned in the opportunity include sustainable curricula, enduring partnerships, scalable teaching resources, and institutionalized training models that do not disappear when USDA funding ends.
8) Who is eligible to apply for HEC funding?
Eligibility is limited to institutions that can demonstrate the ability to teach in the food and agricultural sciences and that meet the RFA's definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization (referenced as Appendix III in the opportunity).
9) Are U.S. public and private nonprofit colleges and universities eligible?
Yes, U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities may apply if they offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one food or agricultural sciences discipline and meet the eligibility definition referenced in the opportunity.
10) Are land-grant universities eligible?
Yes. Land-grant universities are explicitly eligible, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas.
11) Are institutions with significant minority enrollments eligible?
They can be. Colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments are explicitly referenced as eligible if they can demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching in the relevant food and agricultural sciences fields.
12) Can other colleges and universities qualify even if they are not land-grant or specifically named?
Yes. Other colleges and universities may qualify if they can demonstrate the same instructional capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences and meet the RFA eligibility definition.
13) Can a branch campus apply as a separate institution?
Only under specific conditions. Individual branches within a state university or higher education system can be treated as separate eligible applicants only if they are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions. Campuses that are not independently accredited are not treated as separate institutions for this program.
14) Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
The opportunity notes that a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university may be considered an eligible institution, provided the accreditation is by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
15) Is U.S. citizenship required for the Project Director (PD) or key personnel?
No. The program states that U.S. citizenship is not required for faculty serving as the Project Director (PD), co-PD, or other key personnel.
16) Is U.S. citizenship required for individuals receiving Federal funds for developmental activities?
Yes. Individuals who receive Federal funds for developmental activities must be U.S. citizens or nationals, as defined in the RFA.
17) What happens if eligibility requirements are not met by the application deadline?
The opportunity stresses that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
18) Is there a specific eligibility condition for CG1 and CG2 applicants?
Yes. For CG1 and CG2 applicants, the primary applicant institution must meet the regulatory definition of "eligible institution" in 7 CFR 3405.2(i).
19) Do partner institutions on CG1 and CG2 projects also have to meet the same eligibility definition?
Not necessarily. For projects involving partners under CG1 and CG2, participating institutions do not necessarily need to meet the same "eligible institution" definition in 7 CFR 3405.2(i), and they also do not have to meet the definitions of "college" or "university" in 7 CFR 3405.2(f).
20) Can award recipients subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly?
Yes. Award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the project. This can allow inclusion of specialized partners such as nonprofits, industry entities, or service providers.
21) What agency administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
22) What is the funding activity category and assistance listing?
The posted source details describe it as a discretionary grant opportunity in the Agriculture funding activity category, with CFDA 10.217.
23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA CGP 010433.
24) What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2024-03-05.
25) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
26) How many awards does NIFA anticipate making?
NIFA anticipates making about 18 awards, indicating a competitive program with relatively substantial per-project funding for higher education innovation and partnership-based efforts in the food and agricultural sciences.
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